Grasso Elio is a well-known winery in Monforte d’Alba, Cuneo, Piedmont. The holdings of the estate include 42 hectares of land, 24 hectares of which are forests and 18 hectares are vineyards in the most prestigious Piedmont appellations. The Grasso family started to bottle wine from the estate under their label in the 1980s. Their wines are elegant, perfectly balanced and powerful. The top wines of the estate are Barolo Riserva Rüncot, Barolo Gavarini Chiniera, and Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè. Gambero Rosso awarded the Barolo Riserva Rüncot 1999 and Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè 2012, 2015 with 3 red glasses, Barolo Gavarini Chiniera 2011 with 2 red glasses. The Barolo Riserva Rüncot 2013 scored 100, the Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè 2008 scored 98+, and Barolo Gavarini Chiniera 2016 scored 98 by the Wine Advocate. Robert Parker’s tasting notes on the Barolo Riserva Rüncot 2013: “If any Italian wine from this decade can undeniably be called a reserve, it is the 2013 Barolo Riserva Rüncot. This wine was not made in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 or 2018. (The 2013 vintage will be released commercially in February of 2020, and this is the wine's first official review.) Gianluca Grasso holds the precious bottle I tasted from as if it were a newborn child. This vintage saw a relatively long growing season, and it offers greater fruit density, structure and acidity than the last edition that was made, 2010. There is more vibrancy here and a true sense of energy brimming right there under the surface. The wine goes through 45 days of extended maceration post-fermentation and then a solid seven years of ageing between oak and bottle. The resulting Riserva Rüncot has a stunning bouquet that is all violets and prunes, followed by a classic palate of minerals, herbs, cinnamon and delicate wafts of white truffle. This wine tells a story from nose to finish, like a flashing film reel. Fewer than 5,000 bottles were made. This is a crowning achievement for the hard-working and passionate Grasso family, led by father Elio and son Gianluca. Congratulations.”

Grasso Elio is a family estate, founded in the late 20th century. The Grasso family - Elio, Gianluca, Marina, Francesca and Martina Grasso are managing the winery. All of them are successors of winemaking practices passed from father to son. In 1978 the Grassos started to vinify and bottle grapes from various vineyards separately. Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto were replanted and a 1-hectare-vineyard of Chardonnay appeared in 1986.

Grasso Elio’s vineyards are farmed according to environmentally-friendly practices. The grapes planted are represented with Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Chardonnay, at a planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare. The average age of vines varies from 20 to 30 years. Fermentation of Barolo Rüncot Riserva includes alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with daily pumping over. It is followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine is matured in new French oak barrels. Bottling is carried out in August. The wine then stays in the cellar for 18 to 24 months before release.